Shot-putter Carl Fletcher given four-year ban for trafficking steroids
Owen Gibson/Guardian.com.uk
Monday 21 November 2011 13.25 EST



• British athlete suspended by UK Anti-Doping
• Comes after Fletcher was sentenced to nine months in jail

UK Anti-Doping has issued its first four-year suspension to a British athlete convicted of trafficking anabolic steroids.

The shot-putter Carl Fletcher was sentenced to nine months in prison at Liverpool crown court for drug offences, including supplying 16 types of class C substances. His offence involved the supply of a number of anabolic steroids, including testosterone, human growth hormone and Trenbolone, all of which are banned under the World Anti-Doping Agency code.

Fletcher, who was provisionally suspended from all competition on 8 November, is banned from participation in sport until 7 November 2015.

The UKAD chief executive, Andy Parkinson, said the case demonstrated the extent to which it was increasingly working with law enforcement agencies, in this case including Merseyside police and the Serious Organised Crime Agency.


"This case proves the invaluable role that law enforcement agencies have in the fight against doping in sport and demonstrates that our intelligence system is working effectively," he said.


"I would like to thank Merseyside police and Soca for their vital assistance in helping our intelligence team with this case. By attacking the supply chain and those that supply performance-enhancing substances, we stand a better chance of protecting the right of the clean athletes to compete in doping-free sport."


The Wada code provides for a minimum four-year ban for trafficking or administering the provision of a banned substance. UKAD, which has a budget of £6.3m, was launched as a standalone agency in 2010. Anti-doping had previously fallen under the aegis of UK Sport.